OAKLAND — A fourth man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting March 9 of a West Oakland mother caught in a deadly crossfire as she tried to help two of her children to safety, authorities said Tuesday.

Michael Stills, 21, of Oakland, who was arrested March 26, is charged in the killing of Chyemil Pierce, 30, who was fatally shot outside her home in the 2800 block of Chestnut Street.

Three other men have been previously arrested and charged with murder and other crimes in the case. More suspects are still being sought.

Authorities said Stills knows two of the men already charged but would not say what his actual involvement was. He was originally arrested on suspicion of being an accessory but after a review of the case prosecutors charged him Monday with murder.

Stills is not charged in the complaint with firing a gun but is accused of being armed with one.

He is scheduled to enter a plea Wednesday. He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail.

Previously charged with murder and other crimes in the fatal shooting are Shelton McDaniels and Jerry L. Harbin Jr., both 29, and Anthony Sims, 19, all of Oakland. Several guns believed used in the exchange of shots have been recovered by police who have said the shooting involved members of two West Oakland gangs.

Police said none of the four men charged so far have admitted knowing Pierce, who also had a third child and worked in the human resources department of Kaiser Permanente.

Police have said McDaniels, Harbin and Sims fired weapons in the gunbattle and Sims has admitted his involvement. Sims” attorney has said he only did so to protect a 16-year-old friend who was critically wounded and remains hospitalized.

Police have said the deadly violence ignited after a physical fight between groups of women on Chestnut Street escalated when a man got involved and hit one of the women. Sims and the 16-year-old were then called to the scene where McDaniels, Harbin and Stills already were as were others.

A gunbattle erupted during which Pierce was fatally shot trying to get her 7 and 9-year-old children to safety. Sims and the 16-year-old were also wounded. Sims was arrested at Highland Hospital March 10. Police have not said yet what the role of the 16-year-old was.

OAKLAND — A fourth man has been charged with murder in the fatal shooting March 9 of a West Oakland mother caught in a deadly crossfire as she tried to help two of her children to safety, authorities said Tuesday.

Michael Stills, 21, of Oakland, who was arrested March 26, is charged in the killing of Chyemil Pierce, 30, who was fatally shot outside her home in the 2800 block of Chestnut Street.

Three other men have been previously arrested and charged with murder and other crimes in the case. More suspects are still being sought.

Authorities said Stills knows two of the men already charged but would not say what his actual involvement was. He was originally arrested on suspicion of being an accessory but after a review of the case prosecutors charged him Monday with murder.

Stills is not charged in the complaint with firing a gun but is accused of being armed with one.

He is scheduled to enter a plea Wednesday. He is being held without bail at Santa Rita Jail.

Previously charged with murder and other crimes in the fatal shooting are Shelton McDaniels and Jerry L. Harbin Jr., both 29, and Anthony Sims, 19, all of Oakland. Several guns believed used in the exchange of shots have been recovered by police who have said the shooting involved members of two West Oakland gangs.

Police said none of the four men charged so far have admitted knowing Pierce, who also had a third child and worked in the human resources department of Kaiser Permanente.

Police have said McDaniels, Harbin and Sims fired weapons in the gunbattle and Sims has admitted his involvement. Sims” attorney has said he only did so to protect a 16-year-old friend who was critically wounded and remains hospitalized.

Police have said the deadly violence ignited after a physical fight between groups of women on Chestnut Street escalated when a man got involved and hit one of the women. Sims and the 16-year-old were then called to the scene where McDaniels, Harbin and Stills already were as were others.

A gunbattle erupted during which Pierce was fatally shot trying to get her 7 and 9-year-old children to safety. Sims and the 16-year-old were also wounded. Sims was arrested at Highland Hospital March 10. Police have not said yet what the role of the 16-year-old was.